Photos: XC World Championships

A Back-Alley Brawl

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The Elite men's race started out as a friendly affair for the first lap. Julien Absalon led the bunch, and everyone cruised around the course at a mellow pace. But the knives came out and speeds picked up on the second lap and the race took on the feel of a back-alley brawl, filled with rapid attacks and prolonged acts of aggression.